ITALY coach Giovanni Trapattoni might have kept his job yesterday, but if he glanced at any newsstand he would have learnt the knives were still out for him.

ITALY coach Giovanni Trapattoni might have kept his job yesterday, but if he glanced at any newsstand he would have learnt the knives were still out for him.

The Italian media, led by the influential Gazzetta dello Sport, have pinpointed the November 20 friendly against Turkey as a must-win match.

They say that if the Azzurri put in another unconvincing performance, Il Trap will be on his way out and a new man will take the helm.

Trapattoni kept his job after showdown talks in Rome with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Franco Carraro.

The nation's top soccer writers, although willing to lend their support for now, have demanded a rapid improvement, starting with the friendly against World Cup semi-finalists Turkey in

Pescara.

Trapattoni is under fire because Italy are on a rotten run of form, which came to a head with the 2-1 defeat against Wales on October 16.

Milan-based Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted the pressure now placed on the next game.

"It's his last chance against Turkey. If he loses he will be dismissed," the paper claimed, adding: "Trapattoni stays for now, then we will see."

The Corriere dello Sport believe that the FIGC's decision to stick with Trapattoni was partly based on the fact there was no suitable alternative.

Weekend speculation had suggested England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has coaching experience in Serie A, as a possible replacement but the Swede and the FIGC have distanced themselves from those stories.

"Trap's role as technical director is under review but there is no interest in Eriksson," said Corriere.

Amid all the criticism of Trap-attoni and speculation surrounding his future, there was one publication willing to give him their unswerving support.